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NORWALK, CT -- Beer sales dipped for the second year in a row, falling 1.5% in 2011, according to the latest report by the Beverage Information Group, based here. For all categories of alcoholic beverages tracked -- including beer, wine and spirits -- on-premise sales also continued their years-long decline last year.
BIG's annual report, published under the title "Handbook Advance 2012," was released in April. The report said overall sales of adult beverages are trending up slightly, but virtually all of the increases appear to be for take-home consumption.
Liquor licensed locations are the prime real estate for America's street operators, who install games and jukeboxes in taverns and restaurants. The economic strength of these venues may be gauged in part by the volume of adult beverage sales.
BIG's annual report did highlight one mildly hopeful sign for the street operator's most important market. "Following years of negative trends, on-premise consumption progressed at a slower decline in 2011," says BIG's senior research analyst Adam Rogers. He credited the improving economy and product innovation for the relative improvement.
The Beverage Information Group is a division of M2MEDIA360.
